Of course, we never want to get sick, but there may be times that one may succumb to the myriad of viruses that surround us. The best medicine is prevention, of course, and we encourage you to keep your nervous system “fine tuned” so that your immune system is working at its’ best. However, if you do come down with something, here are some practical tips.
In October, I (Dr. Dave) got sick. It wasn’t COVID (I tested), but I felt wiped out. Jane got it first and a few days later she “shared it” with her husband, as a loving wife will do. These are some things I did which helped me while I was laid up, which I thought might be useful to you as we traverse through cold and flu season. Just in case.
Take the time to rest. If the COVID era has taught us anything, it is that we should not “push through” when we are sick. There once was a time that employers encouraged you to gut it out and drag yourself into the office when you are under the weather. Those days are gone. No one wants to see you! I woke up with a scratchy throat on a Friday and cancelled all my patients for the day so I could rest and recover through a long weekend. People understand! It felt good to cancel everything for 3 days and know that I could totally focus on healing, (and cancel more if I needed to when Monday came).
Don’t assume your sickness will be like other people’s. It can be helpful to compare and know what your coworker or spouse went through while they had the latest flu bug, but don’t assume your body will respond the same way, as we discussed in last month’s article, “How Long?” Embrace your journey with this illness and respond to your body’s need for rest, hydration and movement, whether you are down longer or less time than others.
Watch your “posture” while resting and keep changing positions. You will be spending a lot of time lying down when you’re really sick, but it is easy to have bad posture while you lie, which can make the muscle problems you experience even worse. If you are watching a screen or reading a book, you may be propping yourself up or contorting yourself to see the screen/read. Be aware if you are doing this and keep changing your position. Try and find a posture that is neutral and not putting a strain on your body. Even if you have someone that will bring you regular cups of tea and soup, make yourself get up regularly and move around to keep your muscles mobile and your blood flowing.
Consider audio books. If you are suffering from headaches or eye strain, you may not feel like sleeping but you cannot focus on a screen or be able to concentrate to read. Audiobooks may be downloaded on to a phone or tablet for free from the Toronto Public Library. Listening to a book can help distract you and allow you to rest while occupying your mind.
Stretch and give yourself some acupressure massage. Lying down for long periods of time can be hard on the body. I keep 2 tennis balls in a sock under my bed. When my back tightens up from prolonged bedrest, I lie on the tennis balls, with one on either side of my spine. I start with it at the back of my neck (with it on my pillow) and allow the pressure to release my tight neck muscles, breathing slowly and deeply for a couple of minutes in this position. I then shift the tennis balls down a few inches and repeat, until I have gone all the way down my spine. This can take half an hour, but it is like getting a massage. If you’re listening to an audio book and using your breathing to relax the muscles, the time will go by pleasantly. Gentle stretches like cat/cow or spinal twist from yoga (google them) can be performed while in your bed, giving your body a break as well.
Embrace the time to reset. No one likes getting sick. Our attitude when we are sick will impact our immune system and ability to recover. Denial is never a good idea. Take the time to take care of yourself. Getting mad at your body or the “Flu Bug” that took you down isn’t productive either. Pamper yourself. Enjoy the opportunity to binge watch a series, or Hallmark Christmas movies, or an audio book you never got around to reading. Stay positive that you will get better and be patient with yourself.
Try and stay healthy through this holiday season, but just in case you don’t- I hope these tips can help!